Paraklesis to the Most Holy Theotokos
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, who art everywhere present and fillest all things with Thy grace, Treasury of good things and Giver of life: come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O Good One. *
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, deliver us and release us from our sins; O Master, pardon our iniquities; O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O come, let us worship God our King. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and God. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God.
O Lord, attend to my prayer: hearken to my supplication in thy truth; hear me in thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has brought my life down to the ground; he has made me to dwell in a dark place, as those that have been long dead. Therefore my spirit was grieved in me; my heart was troubled within me. I remembered the days of old; and I meditated on all thy doings: yea, I meditated on the works of thine hands. I spread forth my hands to thee; my soul thirsts for thee, as a dry land. Pause. Hear me speedily, O Lord; my spirit has failed; turn not away thy face from me, else I shall be like to them that go down to the pit. Cause me to hear thy mercy in the morning; for I have hoped in thee; make known to me, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk; for I have lifted up my soul to thee. Deliver me from mine enemies, O Lord; for I have fled to thee for refuge. Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God; thy good Spirit shall guide me in the straight way. Thou shalt quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake; in thy righteousness thou shalt bring my soul out of affliction. And in thy mercy thou wilt destroy mine enemies, and wilt destroy all those that afflict my soul; for I am thy servant.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
God is the Lord and hath appeared unto us; blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. Verse 1: O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever. Verse 2: All the nations compassed me about, and in the name of the Lord I withstood them. Verse 3: I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. Verse 4: The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner; this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.
To the Theotokos let us now run fervently, we sinners and lowly ones, and fall down in contrition, crying from the depth of our heart with warm tears: O Lady, help us with thy mercy; O hope of the faithful, hasten, for we are perishing under the multitude of our sins; turn not thy servants away empty, for thou art our hope and intercessor before thy Son and our God.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. (The same)
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
We will never cease, O Theotokos, we the unworthy, from speaking of thy mighty acts; for hadst thou not stood before us to intercede, who would have delivered us from so many dangers? And who would have kept us free until now? We will not depart from thee, O Lady, for thou ever savest thy servants from all misfortunes. Ode 1, irmos
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of thy compassions blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of mine iniquity; and my sin is continually before me. Against thee only have I sinned, and done evil before thee: that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. For, behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother conceive me. For, behold, thou lovest truth: thou hast manifested to me the secret and hidden things of thy wisdom. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be purified: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt cause me to hear gladness and joy: the afflicted bones shall rejoice. Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in my inward parts. Cast me not away from thy presence; and remove not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation: establish me with thy directing Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and ungodly men shall turn to thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation: and my tongue shall joyfully declare thy righteousness. O Lord, thou shalt open my lips; and my mouth shall declare thy praise. For if thou desiredst sacrifice, I would have given it: thou wilt not take pleasure in whole-burnt-offerings. Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, to Sion in thy good pleasure; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then shalt thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, offering, and whole-burnt-sacrifices: then shall they offer calves upon thine altar.
Having passed through the waterless land as on dry ground, and been delivered from the toils of Egypt, the people of Israel cried out: Let us sing to our Deliverer and Lord.
O most holy Theotokos, save us.
Beset by many temptations, I flee to thee, O Lady, and ask for mercy: deliver me from afflictions and sorrows, O Deliverer and Saviour of the despairing.
O most holy Theotokos, save us.
The assaults of the passions trouble me and fill my soul with much despondency; grant me calm and peace, O Bride, through the supplication of thy Son and God.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Virgin, who didst bear God the Saviour, I ask of thee deliverance from afflictions; for I lift up my soul and my mind to thee, O all-hymned one.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Ode 3, irmos
Held fast in afflictions and trials, make me worthy of thy visitation and care, O Theotokos, for thou, who didst bear the good God, art good and merciful.
O Lord, who didst fix the vault of heaven and art the builder of the Church, establish us in Thy love, Thou summit of every joy and strengthener of the faithful, who alone lovest mankind.
O most holy Theotokos, save us.
We know thee as the hope and boast and protection of my life, as deliverer and wall, O all-immaculate Theotokos; be thou my guide and divine haven, O cause of good things and firmness of the faithful, who alone art all-glorious.
O most holy Theotokos, save us.
I entreat thee, O Virgin, still the tumult of my soul and the storm of my sorrow; for thou, O Bride of God, didst bear Christ, the source of calm, O thou who alone art all-holy.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou didst bear for us God, the Benefactor and Cause of all good things; therefore we entreat thee, O Bride, grant us an abundance of good things, for thou canst do all things, as the Mother of Christ God, who is mighty in power, O thou who alone art blessed of God.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
I am tried by cruel pains and evil passions; help me, O Virgin, physician of our souls and bodies, for the assembly of the faithful knoweth thee as the treasury of all good things and of healings for incurable pains.
Deliver thy servants from dangers, O most holy Virgin Theotokos, for after God we all flee unto thee, as to an unbreakable wall and protection.
Look upon us, O all-praised Theotokos, and heal the grievous wounds of our bodies and the sicknesses of our souls.
Priest: Have mercy on us, O God… with the exclamation. Tone 2. Ode 4, irmos
O fervent intercessor and invincible wall, fountain of mercy and refuge of the whole world, we cry to thee with supplication: hasten to help us, O Lady Theotokos, and deliver us from dangers, O thou who alone art blessed; be swift to entreat and ready to intercede, and a compassionate upholder, thou who ever strivest for those who honour thee, O Theotokos.
I have heard, O Lord, of the dispensation of Thine ineffable mysteries; I have considered Thy works, and I have confessed Thy Godhead.
O most holy Theotokos, save us.
Still the stirrings of my passions and the waves of my sins and faults, O holy Bride, who didst bear God almighty.
O most holy Theotokos, save us.
Grant the abyss of mercy to me, thy suppliant, O thou who didst bear the merciful God, the Saviour of all who extol thee.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
We who have gained thee as our hope and firmness and unshaken wall are delivered from afflictions, O all-hymned Mother of God.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Ode 5, irmos
As I lie on a bed of pain and a couch of sorrow, help me, O Bride, for thou art most merciful, and raise me up.
Enlighten us with Thy light, O Lord, and with Thine arm on high grant us, the faithful, Thy peace from heaven, O Lover of mankind.
O most holy Theotokos, save us.
Fill our life with joy, O Bride, and grant us divine and everlasting gladness, O Mother of joy.
O most holy Theotokos, save us.
Deliver us from afflictions, O Theotokos, who didst bear for us the everlasting Light and the peace that passeth all understanding, Christ.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Dispel the gloom of my sins, O Theotokos, with the light of thy radiance, thou who didst bear for us the Light that was before the ages.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Ode 6, irmos
Heal, O Bride, the sickness of my passions, and make me worthy of thy visitation, and grant me health through thy supplication.
Forgive, O Good One, my countless sins, for which I call upon Thee; deliver me from evils; to Thee I cry: hear me, O God my Saviour.
O most holy Theotokos, save us.
God by His death loosed for us the corruption of death; entreat Him, O Virgin, to deliver my nature from corruption and to rescue it from the passions of the demons.
O most holy Theotokos, save us.
I know thee as the guide of my life, O Mother of God, the deliverer from trials, the crusher of enemies and the banisher of passions and afflictions, O hope of the despairing.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
We have gained thee as the saviour and wall of our souls, as a refuge and as spaciousness in sorrows, O Theotokos, and, enlightened by thy light, we are delivered from all afflictions.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
I lie sick upon a bed of pains, and there is no healing for my flesh and bones, O Virgin; thou who didst bear the Physician of sicknesses, raise me up from corruption.
Deliver thy servants from dangers, O most holy Virgin Theotokos, for after God we all flee unto thee, as to an unbreakable wall and protection.
Look down upon us, O all-praised Theotokos, and heal the evil wounds of our bodies and the sicknesses of our soul. Kontakion, Tone 6. The Gospel according to Luke
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
O hope and refuge of Christians, unashamed mediator before the Creator, numbered with Him and accepted by Him, despise not the voices of sinners’ supplications, but hasten to help us, as thou art good, who cry to thee with faith, O thou who alone art blessed; be swift to entreat and ready to intercede, and a compassionate upholder, thou who ever strivest for those who honour thee, O Theotokos.
In those days Mary arose, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit: and she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. And Mary said,
My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is His name. And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Through the intercessions of the holy Theotokos, O Merciful One, blot out the multitude of my transgressions.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. (The same.) And after it this, Tone 6:
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy, and according to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgression, and have mercy on me, O God.
Commit me not to human counsel, O most holy Lady, and forsake me not in the days of my life, but intercede for us and save us who are afflicted; for thou art an almighty helper, O Virgin Mother of God, overthrower of enemies and destroyer of foreign foes; be a helper to thy pious people, and to the city, and to those who sing to thee, and deliver Christians from all trials. Ode 7, irmos
Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times)
The God-fearing youths in Babylon served not the golden image, and therefore were cast into the furnace, and, bedewed, they cried out thus and said: Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers!
O most holy Theotokos, save us.
Willing our salvation, O Deliverer, Thou didst dwell in the womb of the Virgin and didst show her forth as the hope of the world; therefore we cry to Thee and say: Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
O most holy Theotokos, save us.
O Virgin, entreat the Word who willeth mercy, whom thou didst bear, to deliver us from sins and from the passions of the soul, that we may say with faith: Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thy Son made thee a fountain of incorruption and a treasury of life, a tower of steadfastness and a door of repentance, O Virgin; therefore we cry: Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Ode 8, irmos
Heal of bodily sickness and of the sins of the soul, O Theotokos, those who revere thee and flee to thy protection, for thou, O all-holy one, art the physician and saviour of our souls and bodies.
He who spoke with Moses on the mountain through the bush showed forth an image of the birth from the Virgin without harm; let us all bless Him and supremely exalt Him unto the ages.
O most holy Theotokos, save us.
Forsake not us who seek thy help, O Virgin Theotokos, but look upon us with a sweet eye, that we may bless thee and exalt thee unto the ages.
O most holy Theotokos, save us.
Thou bestowest an abundance of healings on those who sing to thee with faith, O Virgin, and deliverest from afflictions and pains those who bless thee with thanksgiving, O Mother of God.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Heal in thy mercy the pains of our bodies and souls, O Lady, and deliver us from all trials, that we may sing to thee and exalt thee unto the ages.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Ode 9, irmos
Thou drivest away the assaults of temptations and loosest the onslaught of the passions, O Theotokos, hope of the despairing; therefore we bless thee and exalt thee unto the ages.
Thee, the unwedded, the Mother who knew not a bridegroom, who didst bear beyond nature the One without beginning, the Creator, the true God, we magnify with unceasing hymns.
O most holy Theotokos, save us.
Despise not the stream of my tears, O Christ, who hast wiped away every tear from the face of the earth, through the intercessions of Thy Mother, of whom Thou wast made man beyond understanding.
O most holy Theotokos, save us.
Fill my heart with joy, O Theotokos, who didst receive the fullness of all joy; wipe away the sadness of my sorrow and fill the world with grace, O all-holy one.
O most holy Theotokos, save us.
Be a helper and a haven to the storm-tossed, O Virgin, an unshaken wall and a refuge, a shelter, a joy and an everlasting gladness to those who magnify thee and sing to thee with longing.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Enlighten with the light of thy radiance, and drive away the darkness of ignorance from those who sing to thee and confess thee as Theotokos, O all-holy Virgin, Bride of God.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Raise me up, fallen as I am in a place of affliction and on a bed of sickness, through thine intercession, and heal thy contrite and wounded servant, O blessed Virgin, hope of the despairing.
It is truly meet that we should magnify thee, O Theotokos, who art ever-blessed and all-immaculate and the Mother of our God. Thee, more honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the only Theotokos, we magnify in song.
Higher than the heavens and holier than the Cherubim, O most holy Virgin Theotokos, establish Orthodoxy in the world and keep our God-protected people, its rulers and its armed forces, and grant us great mercy from heaven from God, whom thou didst bear, O thou who alone art blessed.
Raise us up who have fallen through many sins, and heal the sicknesses of our souls and bodies, O Theotokos, who flee to thy protection, for thou art the physician of all.
O Lady, Mother of God, cease not to entreat for us all Him whom thou didst bear, that He may deliver the faithful from the unquenchable fire; and we all magnify thee with faith.
We call upon thee, O unwedded and all-holy Virgin: ask of Him whom thou didst bear to give our pious people victory and deliverance from the yoke of the enemies, for we magnify thee unceasingly.
O holy angels of the heavenly hosts, Forerunner of the Lord, twelve apostles, hierarchs, martyrs, blessed fathers and all the saints, cease not to intercede with the Theotokos for the salvation of us who magnify you.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, deliver us and release us from our sins; O Master, pardon our iniquities; O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for, being without any defence, this supplication do we sinners offer to Thee, the good Master: have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Lord, have mercy on us, for in Thee have we put our trust; be not exceedingly angry with us, neither remember our iniquities; but look upon us in mercy, as Thou art good, and deliver us from Thy just wrath; for Thou art our God and we are Thy people; we are all the work of Thy hands, and Thy name is called upon us: have mercy on us.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Open unto us the doors of compassion, O blessed Theotokos, that hoping in thee we may not perish, but through thee be delivered from our adversaries, for thou art the salvation of the Christian race. Say this prayer with compunction:
Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times)
O most holy Lady Theotokos, higher than the holy angels and archangels and more honourable than all creatures, helper of the helpless, hope of the hopeless, refuge of the poor, consolation of the sorrowful, nourisher of the hungry, clothing of the naked, healing of the sick, salvation of sinners, and help and refuge of all Christians.
O all-merciful Lady, Virgin Theotokos, by thy mercy save and have mercy on our God-protected people and its sovereignty.
Save, O Lady, and have mercy on our great lord, the Most Holy and Most Blessed Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazeti, our father Ilia, and the most reverend metropolitans, archbishops and bishops, and all the priestly and monastic orders. Shelter with thy precious robe the pious faithful, the commanders and the governors of cities, all the Christ-loving armed forces and our benefactors, and all Orthodox Christians. Entreat, O Lady, Christ our God, who was incarnate of thee without seed, that He may gird us with His invincible power against our enemies visible and invisible.
O all-merciful Lady Theotokos, raise us up from the depths of sin, and deliver us from famine, pestilence, earthquake, fire, the sword, the invasion of foreigners, civil war, sudden death, the assaults of enemies, destructive winds, every deadly plague and every evil; grant, O Lady, peace and health to these thy servants, Orthodox Christians, and enlighten our minds and the eyes of our hearts, that we may be saved; and make us, thy sinful servants, worthy of the kingdom of thy Son, Christ our God, for His dominion is blessed and glorified, with His unoriginate Father and His all-holy and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
It is truly meet that we should magnify thee, O Theotokos, who art ever-blessed and all-immaculate and the Mother of our God. Thee, more honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the only Theotokos, we magnify in song.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thy most pure Mother, of our venerable and God-bearing fathers and of all Thy saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
Thou art the refuge of all our life, O good one; shelter us who flee to thee with faith, and stretch out to us the hand of thy mercy, for we sinners have no other mediator but thee; in afflictions and trials show us the power of thy help, for thou art ever our helper and deliverer from sins, O Mother of God Most High; wherefore deliver from all trials us, thy servants, who commit ourselves to thee.
O Lady, look upon the supplication of thy servants, and deliver us from all trials and sicknesses.
